Attachable chain link



Feb. 23, '1932. F. A. CALKINS ATTACHABLE CHAIN LINK Filed March 26, 1931INVENTOR. 1 W aerial; cfl. Gamma- MW A TTORNEYS.

r1 t's the anti-skid chain are the ones that 'tion 'ly t'rueof the crossPatented Feb. 23, 1932 iuN rrED STATES T TQ F I qmmmcn. mmmsfor wernnmmamend 5 i .jnrrAcHABLn application an March as,

My invention relates to improvements in connectable link meansfor-chainsand more particularly to anti-skid chain 'devices, for Vehicletires, and comprising side chains and attached cross ortread chain; I i

It is well knownthat the various; chain sections used in the above formsof anti-skid devices do not wearequally, and that the so called crosschains wear out very readily and much quicker than the side chains, be-5 cause of the rough usage to which they are subjected. It istherefore-the general practice with these present commercial .forms ofchains, to detach the entire anti-skid chain device and to employspecial tools with which to remove the broken sectionsof cross chainsand to replace them with new ones whereby may again be attached to thetire. I The intermediate links of these cross chains receive: theseverest wear While the end links of these cross chains, notably thosedisposed against the side of the tire and connected to the side chains,receive comparatively little wear. This being so, it will be readilyappreciated that my present novel link means, tachment to the sidechains, will likewise not be subject to very much wear. This alsoappliesto the wire'hook members formingthe ends of the cross chains and adaptedfor detachable connection with my improved link means; The side chainsto be used inconnecany ofthe commercial formsof chains used in anti-skidchain devices. This is also equalchainswith the exception of my improvedlink means and the associated hook for use in connection therewith. Thetwisted form of link, as shown in the drawings of this application, arevery gener ally used for the cross chains, yet it 'is to be understoodthatthe particular form of this 'link, as well asthe side chains, is notmaterial to the successful operationof my invention.

to provide a special form of link means that may be permanently attachedtolinks of the said cross chains that is adapted for atportion of a sidechain with my invention may-belike that r i931. Serial no; 525,4f2afdetachably' connected without the removal of the side chains 7 from thewheel; and. so that or broken secti ons thereof maybe readilyunhookedfrommy novel link means carried by the side chains by new cross chainsof proper l 'andconveniently attached.

With these and other "obj ects i invention resides and consists i andwhere.- engths .and

having hookson opposite ends maybe quickly n view,'the n theconstruction andnovel combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermorel fully'de scribed, .illustratd in the accompanying drawings, andpointed out inthe claims herei to appended, it being understoodthat-"vari'- minor details of construction with ous changes in theform,proportion, si'ze,'and

in the scope of theiadvantages. of

:Similarcharacters offreference which I ofan automobile wheel ona theinventionl denote like or corresponding parts throughout thesever'aliigures of the accompanying-drawings forming-a part of thisspecification and upon Fig. lshows a side elevation of portion reducedscale, having a sect on of an anti-skid chain device,

incli iding my invention applied thereto;f 7. 1g. '2 shows a-full-sizedplanview of a I and cross nected by my novel link means;

Fig. :3 is a side elevation of the link andhook shown in Fig; 2; Fig. 4.shows aplan View of't able links, partlyass embled, in be snapped intoplace; and Fig. 5 is a similar plan'view associated links in chain,conconnectable he connectposition to of the two i position to be snappedout of place for disconnecting. i

-Referring in detail to the characters of Thelinks of both of these'sidereference marked upon the drawings, A represents a side chain member ofacolnmercial form of anti-skid chain 'which includes two --side'chainsfand a series of-crosschains B. It is the purpose of my: presentinvention chains may rbe of. any desired form, sizev and pro-portion,

.thoughin.practice'a straight form of link,

as herein shown, is usually empl oyed, while of. the claims may beresorted to withoutdea twisted form of link is generally used ininvention relates more particularly to an attachable link as hereinshown and to which the hooks of the cross chains erectetachablyconnected? 1 nevei arm e f-dink means includes a special form of'link 10which is preferably made of sheetmetal', as herein shown, and is soconstructed and special form of wire hooki lilformin'g the endmembers-of the cross: chainsB and: whereby thesaid cross chains may bedetachably con:- nected-- as is necessary-in theremoval ofb'roken.chains and. the replacement; thereof with new; ones; This form of; hook:will readily v be understood from Figs. 2;to 5 inclusive and,

asiwill be seen, includes a looppportionalQ that is connected in-theloopofthe-end links 13;: of the cross-chain BLandhas; its two; end

portions disposedforward in spaced; parallel relation,.and bent-back. toform the twozhook endslfll.. a

The flat metal link 10 includes a relative narrow attachable endportion. 15' which; is originally 'made'i'n; the form of. a. hook, see.Fig, *3, and closed down upom'and for per.-

manentconne-ction to: one. side portion of; a

' link 16' of the side chain A when itis; desired toconnect the two. Theouterend portion of this fiat link 10. is made relatiuelyfwide andbisprovided-l with. opening 12;: thereranged. in triangular relations.

through to. receive the. wire. end portions 14 of the hook 11,. as in.the attachment of the same to'the link 10 The opening is substantiallyof a tri-angular shape and includes three corners; or pockets 18, 19:and 26% ar- The first mentioned pocket is positionedcentral, o f thewidth of. the linkandthe; two latter. at either side of. a central line;through .the link, This opening further includes inwardly disposedshoulders .lSrand 19" upon the one side-,;andf the other between thepockets, 18 and 20; Tlhelarge end otthe link adjacent the opening may bethickened", as at; 123,, if desired; to provide additional wearingqualities .to thexlink'.v

' -The particular formation. of. the opening including-therectangularly' positioned pockets and the lntervenlngshoulders isimportantfor: the successful operation of my 1nyentiortinthatit permitsthe hookv to be attached oradetachedby hand and withoutthe Iassistanceof tools of any sort; and tobe held 7 .in suchfattachedlpositions. 7

tea LHTdLGLStOOdhWltlJ @r'eference to Figs. 21,. 4

This-1 bebetgether in a way position, V p H H to-becomer-disconnectedunless manual strain arranged as to allow of the attachment of a 21and'22, one. between the: pockets if no-suc'h case,

ow .iznd a e y -flF endZ Q p the two hook end portions of the hook totoallow them to snap by the shoulder" 22 and t'o-be brought intoalignment. with the fiat metal link. When in this it'is'impossible forthe two members is trought tttaraion lines reversed from thatindicatedjnEigame 7 The; detachment: ot. the hook; .fnomthe: flat metal-.-link:will; readily be understood'tnom reference. toi-Eigr ii whereini-t be;seen that one of the'legs ofthe; hook. have been shoved. into. one: of.the side: po ke s; of the opening, andthe other; legof the-hook islporsitionjed. against the: shoulder 22 so thatiwiiih' slight additionahpressure applied to: the loop portion of the: hQQkLlIh'; thedirection:indizcated; by arrow b,;, he;two legsof the-hook V are moyedinwardpermitting that one which is engagement! with-the: shoulder. to;- snapby and; allowthe. hook to, ,agarinbe positioned metallink. '2; My linkscamperliaps most; advantageously be- 'used; by. applyingfihemito the,side. chains in the original manufacture of th$g31111ll57$kid chain,

carding; theshort; ends of. thetbrokern chains,

whereasgi-f-fit isto beiusedi originallyas; a; re-

pairproposition: to; present day: standard types of: antieskid chains,it wonldba nec1essary tov disconnect. tllQIbIDkQIlwGI'ldSt of; the

flatlmetali link inrthe. manner: heretofore: eeiscribed; Aifterzthe flatmetal: links.- have, once been-applied: to the side chains; the remoaraland attachment of the; Gross: Chains are comparatively easy andinexpensiy -ei. Iii-this connection. it. will-:aiso .bebqm in; mind thatshortenjcro'sscha1ns:,may be used; withsmy improvedlink means thanwouldbe: possible were; employed, since that the. end linksor hooks;used for: connection to :the side chains would necessarily have to; bethrown; away: alongwithi the rest. 'ofztl ie sectionsof thebr'okencrosschains.

Havmgthusdescmbed my myentromwhat I. claim andadesireto secure: byLetters, Batentgl sti) 4 r 1-.. An: attachablechaini link including anattachable endi portion and an enlarged end forthe: attachment 1 ofajhook: having atri: -.-an"gu=la3r shaped;- :openingtheretlmrough; in-

whereuponemplacement ofcross. chains; can; be readilyeliectedgbysimplydiscluding pockets in its three corners and a shoulder formed betweentwo or more of said pockets, and a wire hook member including a loop andyieldable spaced-apart hook end portions adapted to be inserted in theopening of the link and then compressed and swung into alignmenttherewith.

2. An attachable link including an attachable end portion and anenlarged end for the attachment of a hook having a tri-angular shapedopening therethrough pockets in its three corners and a shoulder formedbetween two or more of said pockets and a thickened portion between theopening and end of link, and a wire hook member including a loop andyieldable spaced-apart hook end portions adapted to be inserted in theopening of the link and then compressed and swung into alignmenttherewith. 1

3. The combination of a link of the class described comprising anattachable end portion and an end for the attachment of a hook includinga substantially tri-angular shaped opening having a central end positelypositioned side pockets with a shoulder formed between said centralpocket and each of the side pockets, and a wire hook member including aloop and yieldably spaced-apart hook end portions adapted to be insertedin the opening of the link when at a right angle thereto and then to beswung in alignment therewith against the resistance of one of the saidshoulders by applying pressure to the loop suificient to able ends ofthe hook together and snap it by one of the before mentioned shoulders.

Signed at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of 24th day ofMarch, A. D. 19 1 FREDERICK A. CALKINS.

including pocket and op- 7 spring the yield Connecticut this

